perkins



2' SheetsSheet 1.

E. PERKINS.

(No Model.)

WHEEL HUB.

W hE,,

Patented Oct. 23, 1888.

WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheetfi. E. PERKINS. WHEEL HUB.

Nu. 391,642. Patented 0013. 23,1888.

a 1 m a l E m 5. 8 WW ELIGIA PERKINS, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WVILLIS O. HOVE, OF SAME PLACE.

WHEEL HUB.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,642, dated October 23, 1888.

' Application filed June 23, 1 888. Serial No. 277,953. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that I, ELIGIA PERKINS, a citi zen of the United States, and a resident of Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Hubs for Buggies and \Vagons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hubs for buggies, and other vehicles.

The object is to produce a hub which shall be self-lubricating; which will prevent the lubricant from leaking from the box and working out around the spokes, thereby causing the same to become loose; which will render the removal of the wheel for the purpose of lubricating the axle unnecessary, and which will efiectually exclude the entrance of dust or dirt to the axle, thereby preserving the same from injury; furthermore, the object is to produce a hub which shall be simple of construction,

wagons,

2 5 efficient and durable in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a hub, as will be hereinafter fully set forth in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like let 5 ters of reference indicate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hub and axle intact, or as it appears when ready for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the hub and axle, showing a number of radiating grooves for holding the gates used to separate the spokes and a tube secured in the said hub for holding the two flanges of the hub together, and also forming a bearing for the box in which the axle revolves. Fig. 3 is avertieal sectional view of the opposite side of the hub to that shown in Fig. 2, showing the gates secured in place therein. Fig. 4C is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the nuts used for holding the flanges of the hub in place, showing an aperture formed in one end, in which is placed suitable packing for absorbing the lubricant of the axle. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the other nut, showing at one end a stuffing box with suitable packing placed therein to prevent the entrance of dust to the axle. Fig 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the hub with the nuts removed, showing the tube therein in which the box fits. Fig. 7 isa perspective view ofone-halfofthebox,showing the peculiar construction of the same; and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the axle. showing an oil-cup situated at one end and connected with a conduit extending from that point to the end of the axle, through which the lubricant passes for oiling the axle and box.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the hub, which is constructed of two flanges, 1 and 2,which are screwed upon a tube, B, the ends of the said tube extending out beyond the sides of the flanges, as shown in Fig. 6. In each of these flanges is formed a number of radiating grooves, 3, which, when the flanges are screwed in place upon the table, are directly opposite each other, and are designed for the reception of gates 4., which separate the spokes when driven in place. It will be observed that these gates are provided with a number of openings, 5, through which the glue used for causing the spokes to fit tightly within the hub passes from one spoke to the other, thereby causing the said spokes to be more firmly seated within the hub.

O designates the axle, which is made of the ordinary material used for this purpose-via, steel-through the center of which is formed a channel or conduit, 6, which extends from the end back and connects with the oil-cup 7, desi ned to contain the lubricant for oiling the axle and the box. At a point near the end of the said axle is a cut away portion which forms a recess, 8, designed to engage a shoulder, 9, on the box D. It is to be understood that these boxes are made of brass or other suitable material, and are constructed in two pieces-only one being showninthisinstanceso that when they are placed upon the axle, and previous to being inserted into the hub, the shoulder 9 will engage the recess 8 on the axle and prevent the said box from working loose. In order to thoroughly lubricate the center portion of this box,there is an opening, 10, drilled at right angles to the openingin the axle and preferably in the center of the recessed portion, thereby allowing a constant supply of oil to be fed to the interior of the box and thus prevent any danger of the same becoming heated or locked.

E designates a nut screwed upon the tube B on the side next to the body of the vehicle, that is, on the inner side of the axle. At the outer end of this nut is formed a stuffing-box, 11, in which is placed a gasket, 12, of rubber or other suitable material, upon which is screwed a plug, 13, designed to hold the gasket in place, the said gasket being designed to prevent any dust or dirt from getting into the box around the axle should the same become worn. The inner side of the said nutis formed with an upwardly'extending shoulder, 14, designed to press against the side of the flange 2 and cause the same to remain rigid upon the tube. The inner face of the said shoulder 14 is cut away to form a recess, 15, designed to fit down and over a shoulder, 16, on the flange 2 to further prevent the possibility of dust entering to the box.

F designates a nut which is screwed upon the opposite side of the hub or upon the flange 1 and engages the threaded end of the tube B in the same manner as the other nut. The outer end of this nut may be finished in any ornamental manner that may be desired,(one form being shown in the drawings,) and is provided on its inner end with a shoulder similar to that on the other nut and for the same purpose-that is, to cause the flange to remain stationary on the tube against any jarring or working loose from the vibratory motion imparted to the hub when the vehicle using this device is traveling over rough and uneven roads. In the end of the ornamental part 17 is formed a recess, 18, in which is placed a suitable absorbent packing or gasket, 19, which keeps the end ofthe axle lubricated, all surplus oil being caught in a chamber, 20, which is formed in the said ornamental portion.

\Vhen the device is to be used, the axle O is first inserted through the nut E, the gasket 12 being already secured in position by means of the plug 13, as before described, the shoulder 21 in the opening 22 pressing against the box D and preventing the same from moving. The boxes D are then placed upon the axle, the shoulders 9 engaging the recess 15 in the axle. The hub is then slid on, the boxes fit ting in the tube, as before described, and the nut is screwed home, the shoulder 14 being forced up against the flange 1. The other nut, F, is then screwed in place and the device is then ready for use. WVhenever the axle is to be lubricated, it is only necessary-to remove the cap of the oil-cup 7, fill the cup with oil, and then replace the cap to prevent the entrance of dust. Should it be desired to remove the wheel from the axle, it is only necessary to loosen the inner nut, E, for that purpose, when the wheel may readily be removed from the axle.

It Will thus be seen by the description furnished herewith and the drawings accompanying it that by this construction of a hub and axle it will be impossible for any dust or dirt to get into the axle and out the same; that the axle may be lubricated without the necessity of removing the wheel; that the spokes will be held firmly in place against the possibility of working loose, and that by means of the tube B all oil will be excluded from the spokes, thereby preventing their working loose, as is often the case with hubs of ordinary construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described hub, consisting of a tube having two flanges screwed thereon, the inner faces of the flanges being provided with radiating grooves designed for the reception of gates for separating the spokes, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a tube having two flanges screwed thereon provided with radiating grooves for holding the gates for separating the spokes, of a nut, E, screwed upon the said tube and provided at its outer end with a stuffing-box for holding a gasket to prevent the entrance of dust to the axle, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a tube having two flanges screwed thereon provided with radiating grooves for holding the gates for separating the spokes, a nut, E, screwed upon the said tube and provided at its outer end with a stufflng-box for holding a gasket to prevent the entrance of dust to the axle, of a nut, F, screwed upon the opposite side of the tube, and having its inner faceprovided with a recess in which is placed a suitable absorbent packingfor lubricating the end ofthe axle, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the nut F, having a recess formed in one end, in which is placed a suitable absorbent packing or gasket, of the chamber 20, formedtherein and designed to catch all surplus oil, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the hub, of the gates fitting in grooves formed therein, and provided with openings by means of which the glue used to hold the spokes in place may pass from one spoke to another, substantially as described.'

6. The combination, with the outer end of the nut E, having the stuffing-box 11 formed therein, in which is placed a gasket, 12, to prevent the entrance of dust to the axle, of a plug, 13, engaging the threaded opening of the stuffing-box and designed to hold the packing in placetherein, substantially as described.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELIGIA PERKINS.

Witnesses:

JACOB MILLER, ALEXANDER CRAWFORD. 

